As Wolf Pack enters spring camp, 10 burning questions the team must answer

The Wolf Pack football team hits the field Wednesday for its first of 15 spring camp practices, with lots of questions surrounding a squad that struggled to a 4-8 record last season. Here are the 10 most important questions Nevada must answer during its month-long spring sessions.

1. Can Nevada find five quality offensive linemen?

The issue: The Wolf Pack’s biggest offensive weak point last season was its line and it lost left tackle Joel Bitonio, a likely second- to third-round draft pick and one of the best linemen in school history. The offensive line woes in 2013 contributed to the team’s offense being ordinary. If Nevada is going to make progress as an offense, the uncertain line must return to “The Union’s” glory days of 2008-2012.

The likely outcome: C Matt Galas, OG Connor Talbott and OT Kyle Roberts will start. The other two starting jobs are open battles, with Reed High walkons Jeremy Macauley and Austin Corbett and newcomers Chad Specht and Humberto Lopez the top candidates. The line will improve, but not be elite.

2. How will Polian, Rolovich tweak the offense?

The issue: Nevada’s offense is usually elite, but it wasn’t last year. It averaged 38 points and 515 yards per game in 2012. Those numbers fell to 27 points and 429 yards in 2013, ranking in the bottom half of the nation in scoring for the first time since 2003. Nevada wanted to be a power-run team last year, but didn’t have the offensive line to do so. With a questionable line this year, will the offense change?

The likely outcome: The offense changes every year, but expect more drastic changes this year. In place of the power-run attack, expect more of a spread-passing attack. Offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich and wide receivers coach Jim Hofher are pass-game gurus. Expect them to return to their roots.

Wolf Pack football coach Brian Polian. (RGJ file)

3. What changes will Boone bring to the defense?

The issue: Historically, Nevada has been poor on defense and first-year coordinator Scott Boone is the latest coach charged with changing that (he’s the team’s 16th defensive coordinator in 23 years in the FBS). The Wolf Pack ranked 102nd in scoring defense and 117th in yardage defense (out of 123 FBS teams) last year, but does return 15 defensive players who have started multiple games at Nevada.

The likely outcome: Boone will try to create more pressure through zone blitzes, but don’t expect major scheme changes. This will still be a 4-3, two-high base defense that will require the defensive line to play well to be successful. Nevada’s banking on player improvement more than scheme improvement.

4. Does Hasaan Henderson look like a future superstar?

The issue: Wide receiver looked like a position of strength, but with Aaron Bradley, who had 113 career catches at Nevada, not returning to the team, now there’s some questions. Nevada can count on Richy Turner (61 catches, 755 yards, four TDs last year), but needs Henderson, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound converted quarterback, to become an all-league type of player as a sophomore. He has that potential.

The likely outcome: If Wolf Pack fans wondered what it would have looked like had Colin Kaepernick played receiver, we’re getting that answer with Henderson. Not only does he have size and strength, but Henderson has strong ball skills. He is a future star and will post a 70/800/8 line in 2014.

5. Will Don Jackson push for the starting running back job?

The issue: Jackson entered last season with a lot of hype and a lot of expectation. Early-season injuries, coupled with moving from the junior-college level to the FBS, proved to be too much as he rushed for 332 yards and four touchdowns and averaged 4.0 yards per carry. Kendall Brock, who rushed for 812 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013, enters camp as the starter, but Nevada needs competition here.

The likely outcome: Nevada has only two scholarship running backs in camp (Brock and Jackson) and needs both to perform. Jackson is the team’s most talented back, so having him emerge would be a blessing. Still, Brock likely keeps the starting gig, with Jackson getting a fair share of the carries.

6. How does the linebacker position shake out?

The issue: Nevada wasn’t very good at linebacker last season. It returns all three starters, but they aren’t assured of retaining their jobs. The list of potential starters is long, including Jonathan McNeal, Jordan Dobrich, Matthew Lyons, Bryan Lane Jr., Fie Faaituala, Alec Moreno, Travis Wilson and Alex Bertrando. With strong spring and fall camps, each guy has a legitimate chance of starting this season.

The likely outcome: With eight players in the mix, it’s hard to project starters. But McNeal, who had a team-high 103 tackles last season, and Lyons, who flashed great potential while racking up 89 tackles, will be hard to beat out. Lane, who started at safety last year, and Wilson have the most athletic ability.

7. Who stabilizes Nevada’s unsettled safety situation?

The issue: The Wolf Pack’s Achilles’ heel defensively in 2013 was safety, where Nevada played a converted cornerback, a converted linebacker and a true freshman for most of the snaps. The picture isn’t much clearer this year, with the converted cornerback (Bryson Keeton) transferring and the converted linebacker (Lane) back at linebacker. This position remains the defense’s biggest issue.

The likely outcome: It’s hard to believe the safety play will improve. Kaodi Dike, who started four games as a true freshman, returns. JC transfer Duran Workman is in the mix. Freshmen Asauni Rufus and Kelton Moore (listed as an athlete) could play when they arrive in the fall. This position has no experience.

8. Which mid-year transfers will start to shine?

The issue: Nevada added five mid-year signees who will be in spring camp, including OL Specht, Lopez and Daren Echeveria, as well as Workman and DT Jeremy Miller. The offensive linemen and Workman are fighting for starting jobs at positions of weakness for Nevada. The Wolf Pack needs those guys to at least compete for playing time and push the other players at their position.

The likely outcome: Workman is a good bet to start at safety since Nevada has limited depth and experience there. Lopez, Specht and Echeveria, the latter two being freshmen, are likely to play this season. Just manage your expectations. It’s not too often a first-year player makes a huge impact.

9. What happens at the tight end position?

The issue: The most underrated aspect of Nevada’s down 2013 season was the season-ending injury to starting tight end Kolby Arendse, which probably cost the team two wins. In the traditional Pistol attack, the tight end is one of the three most important positions on the field. Arendse is gone (he was a senior last season), which leaves sophomores Jarred Gipson and Patrick Clifford vying for the job.

The likely outcome: Clifford, who played as a true freshman last year, has star potential. Expect him to emerge this season and develop into an all-league player down the road (if the voters notice his blocking ability). True freshman Matt Moen, a Texas native, doesn’t arrive until the fall, but he could play, too.

10. Who will the backup quarterback be?

The issue: Senior Cody Fajardo is a highly skilled quarterback who will compete for all-league honors, but he also has a checkered injury history, which makes Nevada’s backup quarterback job an important position. There are three candidates for this job: senior Devin Combs, who is returning from a torn ACL, and youngsters Tyler Stewart and Dante Mayes.

The likely outcome: Combs is a reliable veteran (and as tough as they come), but Stewart and Mayes are the future, along with Hunter Fralick, who will redshirt this year. If Nevada’s offense stays heavily with the read-option run game, Mayes is the best fit. If it becomes more pass oriented, Stewart has the lead.

Columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at cmurray@rgj.com or follow him on Twitter @MurrayRGJ.